346 CHRISTIAN MORALITY, Vii. ESERM. XX. amongst their acquaintance, and profane amongst strangers. They have not impudence enough to be constant in vice, nor have they grace enough to be true to virtue. There are some that speak fair to the face of their neighbour, and spread their compliments abroad before him ; but behind his back, in other company, they are as liberal of their reproaches, and can hardly endure a good thing to be said of him. Their behaviour has brought an infamous word into the English tongue; for theyare justly called backbiters. There are some children that pay the utmost deference to their parents in appearance and show, and will not dare any thing vicious while they are under their eye; but when they are mingled with their vain young ac- quaintance, they run into many extravagances, and give a loose to the wild appetites of the flesh. But theseare not the children of truth. There are some servants who make their zeal and dili- gence appear while their master's eye is, upon them; but they are mere eye - servants and false creatures, for when they are out of his sight, they can waste his substance among merry companions, and perhaps purloin and pil- fer to gratify their own covetousness, or luxury: or at best they make no conscience of acting for their master's interest, when he is absent. Thus different company hath a different influence on the thoughts, the words, and the works of men : And some persons will run into every vice and folly, rather than to oppose their company; they had rather sin against God, and be false to their profession, than ven- ture to be, what they call, rude and uncivil to company. So tender are they of giving offence to men, and so care- less of offending the great and dreadful God ! Thereare some of all ranks and orders, of all sexes ánd ages of mankind, that seem to be sober, but have nothing of this divine virtue of truth or constancy in them. They would neither swear, nor drink, nor game, nor speak a lewd or impious word, when they are in a sober family : But when at any time they happen to come into houses without godliness, they can follow the course of the family in all manner of iniquities, and grow false to all their former, appearaaccs of goodness.
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